Many find lantana rather stinky, but I suppose you could use it in potpourri. It's great in the garden as a long-flowering perennial that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds. Lantana is available in several colors and is best grown in sun and a well-draining soil.

Q: We purchased a lot of bulbs when we were at Keukenhof (a Dutch flower garden) last year. Will the hyacinths naturalize like daffodils or are they one-time bloomers?

J.W., Houston

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A: The hyacinths may naturalize, eventually reverting to the Roman form. It will be interesting to see what happens.

Q: I have blue irises in spectacular bloom. I want to divide them this year and move some. When is a good time?

C.B., Houston

A: Many types of irises grow here. Do you have blue Dutch irises? If so, October is a good time to transplant them. Spuria rises, which look like large Dutch types, like to grow undisturbed, but, if necessary, transplant them in the fall.

Louisiana iris should be transplanted mid-August to October.

Q: Can you tell me what is making horizontal bands of holes on my pear tree?

J.S., Houston

A: The holes are being made by a yellow-bellied sapsucker, a woodpecker relative. After drilling a row, the bird returns to the tree to feed on the sugary sap that accumulates in the holes along with insects attracted to the sweet sap. These sapsuckers generally do no real damage to a tree.

However, keep an eye on your tree and watch for any changes in the bark around the holes. Water the tree slowly and deeply during the drought. It can be difficult to discourage sapsuckers, but you could wrap the area with hardware cloth, a wire mesh.

Q: My favorite tree/flower/fragrance is the Texas mountain laurel. I planted one in my backyard a few years ago, and while it has grown and is green and healthy, it has never flowered. Do I need to bring flowers from my hometown, San Antonio, to try and pollinate it? Or is this climate just not conducive to this tree blooming?

M.G., Houston

A: You don't need to bring a pollinator.

Native Texas mountain laurel (Sophora secundiflora) usually fails to bloom due to inadequate sun (a full day is ideal), improper pruning, freeze damage, low soil acidity or too much nitrogen.

Flowers fail when the gray, stringlike bloom structures - the racemes of dormant flower buds - are pruned in summer, fall or early spring. Harsh weather can damage flowering structures, but that is rarely a problem in this area.

Blooms also are best in a slightly alkaline, excellent-draining soil. If your soil is on the acidic side, mix in a little ground limestone or bone meal to slowly increase alkalinity. This allows the mountain laurel to absorb phosphorous, which encourages blooms. A soil test kit, available at garden centers, will help you determine acidity and alkalinity.

Perhaps your tree is growing rapidly at the expense of blooms. Texas Mountain laurel typically grows slowly to about 15 feet. Experts say those growing moderately may flower at 5 feet. Heavily fertilized trees that are growing more quickly may not flower until 7 or 8 feet.

Bees and butterflies love the March-April, violet pea-shaped, highly fragrant blooms of this member of the legume family. The beanlike pods produced in summer contain hard, red pealike seeds that are toxic.